Larkin Grimm - Parplar

Oct 26, 2008

JAY DIAMOND | hexedjournal.com

exquisite offering of haunted ditties

When a record comes to my attention created by an artist who according to the press release "was born in a Memphis, TN commune and grew up in Dahlonega, Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachians with a family of singers and fiddlers." I usually think that this is either B.S. or it's a new find by Michael Gira for his Young God stable of kooky pal's.

In the case of Larkin Grimm, the above story is part of her biography and has indeed put out her first record on Gira's fine imprint.

Where Grimm has been and what she has seen as a person is of little consequence to me, but upon 2 straight listens to this album, I am quick to believe that she has taken with her the experiences that have shaped her as a person and created this exquisite offering of haunted ditties titled Parplar.
To give a visual, the fifteen songs contained on this LP could very well be the musical accompaniment to a series of cartoons drawn up by Edward Gorey, or possibly the soundtrack to Tom Waits dreams.
That being said, finding her place within the Young God family should not be at all hard for Grimm as she seems to be drinking from the same weird waters as labelmates Akron/Family and the prodigal son Devendra Banhart.

What intrigues me most about this album is the cohesion that Grimm and the guest musicians that back her (including members of Old Time Relijun and another new name on the Young God roster, Fire on Fire) pull off with such an eccentric mix of tunes that at some points find the young songstress purring over a light strum of an acoustic guitar (opening track "They Were Wrong") or something that brings to mind a bunch of pagans dancing around the Maypole on "The Dip." The interesting concoction works through each of the albums fifteen tracks and leaves much to the imagination as to what the future holds for Larkin Grimm.